Can the maddening increase in traffic congestion be controlled by putting a limit on commercial development? That’s the question facing the voters of Santa Monica. Opponents insist that growth is inevitable and can be accommodated without an increase in traffic. Each side accuses the other of making a false promise, and the debate has divided Santa Monica with just about every other Southern California city watching intently to see how the vote comes out. Tonight we’ll hear No Growth” versus “Smart Growth” on the November ballot.

FROM THIS EPISODE

Can the maddening increase in traffic congestion be controlled by putting a limit on commercial development? That’s the question facing the voters of Santa Monica. Opponents insist that growth is inevitable and can be accommodated without an increase in traffic. Each side accuses the other of making a false promise, and the debate has divided Santa Monica with just about every other Southern California city watching intently to see how the vote comes out. Tonight we’ll hear No Growth” versus “Smart Growth” on the November ballot.

Santa Monica is a city of 85,000 people that doubles in size with commuters during business hours. Traffic congestion is changing the nature of the city itself, but growth continues. Now the voters are faced with a measure on the November called RIFT, which stands for Residents Initiative to Fight Traffic. Supporters took just 10 days to raise 10,000 signatures, almost twice the number they needed. RIFT would fight traffic by limiting commercial development.